No. 1 Canadian holds off Stratford

Saturday

CANADIAN - Finally, the home team won in what has become one of the area's best small-school football rivalries during the past five years.

That's because No. 1-ranked Canadian withstood a superb defensive performance by Stratford and made just enough big plays to produce a 21-7 victory Friday before more than 3,500 at Wildcat Stadium.

The win leaves the Wildcats 9-0 overall but more importantly 3-0 in the tough District 1-1A Division I with a game remaining against Boys Ranch next week. They earned at least a share of the district title and can claim the title outright by beating the Roughriders on the road Friday.

This one figured to be close between rivals that ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in victories and winning percentage during the past decade.

During that span they won five state titles, with the Elks claiming three and the Wildcats two.

Since they began playing again in 2006, the visiting team had won every meeting until now.

Canadian entered the game averaging 490 yards total offense per game and 48 points but was held to a season-low 240 total yards and by a defense that rushed three while dropping eight into coverage.

"We weren't sure they would do that, but it didn't surprise us, either,'' said Wildcats quarterback Braden Hudson, who completed 14-of-22 passes for 140 yards and three TDs to bring his season total to 30.

"They are a great team. We knew that. We knew it would take a good effort to beat them, and our defense stepped up big in this one.''

Hudson's 33-yard pass to Isaac Lewis early in the second quarter gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead, and his 1-yard TD toss to Chance Walker with 1:26 remaining before halftime gave them a 14-0 cushion. That second TD capped a 15-play, 94-yard drive that began after Hudson intercepted a pass at the Wildcats 6 with 5:27 to go before halftime.

Stratford pulled within 14-7 on a 50-yard pass from Kyle Horsford to Bryce Cummings with 10:47 remaining to play, but the Wildcats answered with a seven-play, 72-yard scoring drive that was capped by Hudson's 41-yard pass to Taylor Schafer.

The Elks, in some ways, proved to be their worst enemy as they put the ball on the ground six times, losing two fumbles, having one pass picked off and failing to score on four occasions in which they were inside Canadian's 30.

They reached the 9 on their first possession of the game but missed a short field-goal attempt. On subsequent possessions during the game they got to the Wildcats 22, 28 and 20 but each time turned the ball over - twice by fumbles and once on an interception.

"Despite not capitalizing on numerous chances, I felt we got better in a lot of ways,'' said Stratford head coach Eddie Metcalf. "We gave ourselves plenty of chances but didn't finish them off. We just have to work harder to improve on those things.

"Sure, it hurts to lose, but it should. We lost to a great team with a lot of outstanding athletes.''

Canadian first-year head coach Chris Koetting said having the chance to go unbeaten during the regular season and winning the district title were great incentives for his team.

"Those were goals of ours coming into the season,'' he said. "We are in a position to achieve them, and that's gratifying.

"This wasn't our best showing of the season on offense, but heck, Stratford is an outstanding team, and they played their tails off against us. They made us earn what we got.''